Mullens hands out too many gifts to Lions in 30-24 loss

The Vikings had every chance to upset the Lions but gave it away with too many turnovers... again

---

By Matthew Coller

MINNEAPOLIS — Do you ever wonder what it’s like to have a normal game?

The Minnesota Vikings played yet another wild barn burner against the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Just like their other losses this year, the magic of 2022 never showed up and they came up short in a 30-24 loss that severely damaged the Vikings’ chances at the playoffs.

Here’s how it went down…

On the opening drive of the game, it looked like the Lions were going to steamroll the Vikings as the Bengals did in the second half of last week’s contest. Quarterback Jared Goff comfortably started with a completion over the middle and then running back David Montgomery ran for a first down. Right away they were in purple territory. A third down conversion to star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and quick throw to Jameson Williams set up Detroit at the goal line. Veteran RB David Montgomery then pounded the ball into the end zone to complete a 14-play drive that lasted near eight minutes.

The Vikings struck right back though. Kevin O’Connell’s opening script featured several play action plays that immediately got the offense going in the right direction. Josh Oliver started with a 33-yard completion in which the Lions forgot about the massive tight end. On the next play, KJ Osborn was wide open on another bootleg for 14 more yards. While the Vikings ultimately finished the drive with a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7, there was a foreshadowing play mixed in. At the goal line, Nick Mullens rolled out and looked for Oliver in the end zone but he flipped the ball too far and right into the hands of Detroit defensive back Brian Branch. The rookie dropped it, allowing the Vikings another play and Ty Chandler scored.

Things got nuts from there. Detroit rookie Jahmyr Gibbs busted off a 14-yard run but got smacked by safety Cam Bynum and fumbled the ball. The Vikings got the ball back and after an 11-yard sack that nearly turned into last week’s baffling Mullens INT against the Bengals, Mullens threw a floating ball on fourth-and-2 at the Detroit 40 for his first interception.

The teams exchanged three-and-outs and then, early in the second quarter, the referees elected to involve themselves. On second-and-26, Goff completed a short pass to his tight end but Vikings OLB Patrick Jones bumped him at the end of the play, causing the refs to call a personal foul. The Lions got a first down rather than facing third-and-20. Detroit got back to dinking and dunking and put themselves into the red zone. Then it appeared the Vikings had a game-changing strip sack that Bynum returned for a touchdown but the officials overturned it upon review despite the play being very, very close. Detroit kicked a field goal to take a 10-7 lead. It was a 10-point swing call by the refs.

The Vikings responded with another interception. This time Jordan Addison was running wide open but Mullens underthrew him and safety Kerby Joseph grabbed it and returned the ball into Minnesota’s side of the field. It took three plays for Detroit to turn the INT into seven points.

Just when it seemed like the Nick Mullens era might go the way of the Josh Dobbs era, Mullens came through. Or should I say, Justin Jefferson came through.

With 1:27 left in the first half, Jefferson motored over the middle of the field for a 22-yard gain, then on third-and-19 caught a 29-yard pass. That wasn’t even his best work on the drive. From the 26-yard line, Mullens heaved a ball toward the back of the end zone and Jefferson dove and made an incredible grab to bring the Vikings within three points.

Whew. Pay the man.

The Vikings took over in the second half, somehow with plenty of opportunity to pull off an upset.

They started off the second half with a floating ball over the middle that found TJ Hockenson wide open for a first down to mid-field. Mullens then let loose a bomb to KJ Osborn over the middle for 47 yards. One play later Osborn scored and the Vikings took a 21-17 lead.

It was only a few minutes (of game time) ago that it seemed like Mullens might get benched.

Meanwhile the Vikings’ injury list kept growing. Addison was ruled out with an ankle injury and then TJ Hockenson took a hit to the knee and was forced out of the game as well. On Detroit’s next possession, cornerback Mekhi Blackmon went down with a shoulder issue.

Down by four in the third quarter, the Lions returned to their early-game strategy of plodding down the field with runs and short passes. On fourth-and-1 at the Vikings 34-yard line, Gibbs busted out an 18-yard carry to bring Detroit inside the red zone. They converted another fourth down on a QB sneak (no tush push, if you were wondering) and then scored on a short pass to St. Brown. But it wouldn’t be a Vikings game without a bizarre twist. Instead of making it a three-point lead, the Lions had the extra point blocked. 23-21 Lions.

The Vikings went three-and-out when Mullens overthrew backup TE Johnny Mundt and then checked to CJ Ham on third-and-long.

Detroit went back to work, showing why they are an elite offense. On third-and-4, Goff found St. Brown wide open for 25 yards. The tandem hooked up again for another first down and then Goff dumped the ball underneath to tight end Sam LaPorta to move the sticks again. At the beginning of the fourth quarter the Lions were in position to make this a difficult road for Mullens and the offense.

Goff converted a third-and-8 on another short throw over the middle and then got another first down with a check to Gibbs, setting up first-and-goal.

On the way, DJ Wonnum went down with what appeared to be a serious injury. It’s just one of those years.

Gibbs jogged into the end zone on the next play, giving the Lions a 30-21 lead.

Mullens followed up with another arm punt, tossing his third interception of the game. While there was still 9:52 remaining, it felt like that play ended the game. The ESPN Gamecast gave the Lions at 92% shot to win after the pick.

But the Vikings got a stop — Theo Jackson of all people — on third-and-8 and gave themselves a puncher’s chance for a comeback. We have definitely seen crazier things.

Naturally Jefferson was the player to keep it alive. With just under seven minutes remaining, Mullens flung a pass over the middle and Jefferson pulled it down and was smashed by the Lions safety, drawing a penalty. He gained 28 yards on the catch and 15 more on the penalty. The Vikings then dialed up a double reverse and Mullens found Mundt wide freaking open inside the 10-yard line. Gamecast moved the Lions’ chances down below 80%.

The Lions stopped the Vikings on third down and Greg Joseph popped a field goal through to bring the Vikings within six. Will that blocked extra point play a role in this game? Wouldn’t that be just right…

After a first down, the Lions threw two straight incompletions but the Vikings committed a penalty on third down. Another very questionable penalty at that. The refs called it on Jaylin Williams, a practice squad corner who was called into action after the Vikings seemingly benched Akayleb Evans.

The Lions are the Lions though. They took a delay of game and then Gibbs tripped on a run, setting up third-and-16. After a conservative play call handoff, Detroit punted and Nick Mullens was set up with an opportunity to lead a very 2022-ish game-winning drive.

Mullens hit Brandon Powell over the middle for 21 yards at the two-minute warning. The Mullens experience then kicked in to FULL GEAR. Mullens got strip-sacked and Aidan Hutchinson couldn’t pick up the bouncing ball and then the journeyman backup threw a third-and-forever prayer to Jefferson, who repeated the Bills experience from last year for a 28-yard gain and a first down. Mullens then found Powell wide open over the middle to bring the Vikings to the Detroit 30-yard line.

But alas…

Mullens tried for another shot to Jefferson and the ball fluttered on him and was picked off again by Detroit.

Just moments before that, the playoff picture scoreboard did not take a good turn for the Vikings. Seattle and Green Bay won in the waning moments.

Well, you couldn’t ask for much more Christmas Eve entertainment but the dream of the Vikings coming back from 0-3 to the playoffs just took a roundhouse kick to the face.

In the end, despite weird calls by the refs and doors that were cracked open for a comeback, the Vikings got what they had coming in another turnover-laden game. Now they will enter next week trying to scratch their way back out of the “in the hunt” portion of the graphics. That seems like a tough task when their quarterback is bound to throw a pick every third drive.

---